Canadian Film Centre's Worldwide Short Film Fest Set for Toronto Opening Tomorrow

Canadian Film Centre's Worldwide Short Film Fest Set for Toronto Opening Tomorrow

by Ellen Keohane

A scene from Taika Waititi's "Sons of War" (Tama Tu), set to screen on the opening night of the 11th annual Canadian Film Centre's Worldwide Short Film Festival.

The 11th annual Canadian Film Centre's Worldwide Short Film Festival (WSFF), which includes 230 shorts from 30 countries, will open tomorrow night in Toronto. "This year's programming runs the gamut from intimate dramas, gut-busting comedies and brilliant animations to fascinating documentaries and innovative experimental shorts," said festival Artistic Director Shane Smith in a statement. Because WSFF is accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, festival award winners will be eligible for both the Academy Awards and the Genie Awards. Over $125,000 in cash and prices will be offered at this year's festival, which will take place in Toronto, Canada from June 14-19.

The opening night gala will take place tomorrow night with screenings of popular and award-winning shorts from around the world. Taika Waititi's "Sons of War" (Tama tu), Holger Ernst's "Rain is Falling," Daniel O'Hara's "Fluent Dysphasia," Martin Lund's "Home Game" (Hjemmekamp), Sejong Park's "Birthday Boy," Peter Mackie Burns' "Milk" and Chris Landreth's Academy-Award winning "Ryan" will all open the festival.

Seventy-two shorts selected from more than 2,200 submissions will be presented in this year's international competition. North American premieres include Maka Sidibe's "Aligato," Varka Kozlovic's "Dessert," Monika Forsberg's "His Passionate Bride," Alvaro Pastor's "Invulnerable" and Brian O'Malley's "America's Biggest Dick."

WSFF's 2005 "Spotlight on" program will feature shorts from India including Ashvin Kumar's Academy-Award nominated short, "The Little Terrorist" and Virginia Pitt's "Fleeting Beauty." Other programs at this year's fest include "Out There: Sci-Fi Shorts," "Celebrity Shorts" and "Midnight Mania," as well as the always-popular, "Slap 'n Tickle," a selection of shorts looking at the humorous side of love and sex. Another WSFF program, "Scene Not Herd," will include cutting- edge music videos not typically broadcast on television.

On Saturday, June 18 at 7 p.m. there will be an evening with filmmaker and animator Chris Landreth at the Isabel Bader Theatre. Landreth's short "Ryan" will be screened along with shorts created by Ryan Larkin, the man who inspired Landreth's film. A Q&A with Landreth will follow the screenings.

WSFF winners will be announced at an invitation-only afternoon picnic on June 19. Later that night, the award-winning shorts will be screened at the Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto.